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Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities

Retail salespersons, 2016-2020


Background

Retail salespersons help customers find products they want and may process customers' payments. They work in stores where they sell goods, such as books, cars, clothing, cosmetics, electronics, furniture, lumber, plants, shoes, and many other types of merchandise.

As of May 2020, there were 3,659,670 people employed in this occupation. The average hourly wage was $14.87, and the average annual wage was $30,940.

Nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses

In private industry for retail salespersons, there were 28,110 nonfatal injury and illness cases involving days away from work in 2020. The incidence rate per 10,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers was 106.6.



Table 1. Number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work by selected case characteristics, retail salespersons, private industry, 2020
Case characteristic[1]Number of cases

Nature of injury or illness

Sprains, strains, tears

8,240

All other natures

8,000

Bruises, contusions

3,800

Soreness, pain

3,040

Fractures

2,080

Part of body affected

Body systems

5,450

Back

3,880

Foot

2,570

Knee

2,370

Hand

1,850

Source of injury or illness

All other sources

7,140

Floors, walkways, ground surfaces

5,170

Containers

4,700

Vehicles

2,640

Furniture, fixtures

2,250

Event or exposure leading to injury or illness

Exposure to harmful substances or environments

5,770

Fall on same level

5,630

Struck by object or equipment

4,060

Overexertion in lifting or lowering

3,350

Fall to lower level

1,500

[1] Data shown correspond to Nature, Part, Source, and Event codes based on the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System 2.01 developed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses

Fatal occupational injuries

Fatal work injuries totaled 36 for retail salespersons during 2020, compared to 36 during 2019.

Table 2. Fatal occupational injuries by event or exposure, retail salespersons, all United States, 2016–2020
Event or exposure[1][2]20162017201820192020

Total fatal injuries (number)

3343463636

Violence and other injuries by persons or animals

12191116--

Transportation incidents

10965--

Fires and explosions

----------

Falls, slips, trips

7716--10

Exposure to harmful substances or environments

--6887

Contact with objects and equipment

----5----

[1] CFOI data by event are only provided if there are fatal case counts in three or more of the six event categories.

[2] Data shown correspond to Event codes based on the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System 2.01 developed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Note: Dashes indicate data do not meet BLS publication guidelines.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

Sources

Wage and employment estimates come from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program. Injury and illness information come from the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) and Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). For more information on SOII program concepts, see the definitions page and the SOII Handbook of Methods. For more information on CFOI program concepts, see the definitions page and the CFOI Handbook of Methods.

 

Last Modified Date: January 27, 2022